Air and liquid pressure spray gun for cleaning diesel engines and the like



July 7, 1959 A E: s. JoHNsoN 2,893,645 AIR AND LIQUID RRESSuRE SPRAY GUN EDR CLEANING DIESEL ENGINES AND TRE vLIKE Filed Deo. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-sheet I July 7, 1959 E. s. JoHNsoN 2,893,645

AIR AND LIQUID PRESSURE SPRAY GUN FOR CLEANING DIESEL ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 13. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a e9 6 64 .az 963 5o 66 77 fax/En fr' www fm/vzw msm/ M im@ AIR .AND LIQUID PRESSURE SPRAY GUN FOR CLIJANING DIESEL ENGINES AND THE LIKE Edward Sevander Johnson, Chicago, Ill. vAl'rpliiication December 13, 1957, Serial No. 702,559 z (cuasi-zas) vThe present invention relates to air and liquid pressure spray guns for cleaning diesel engines and the like, and is particularly concerned with spray ,guns which may be employed with sources of air under pressure and water under pressure at such different pressures that' the air would ordinarily prevent the iiow of the water and cause the'water to back up in its supply conduit if a spray gun embodying the present invention were not employed.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of improved equipment for cleaning diesel engines of locomotives, which are usually covered with grease and dirt after'coming in from a railroad run, by means of a detergent solution and a rinsing solution of water, both of whi'ch are sprayed by the' use of air under pressure, the cleaning occupying a minimum amount of time and labor' and material as distinguished from the methods ofv thel prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved air and liquid spray gun which may be employed with' the' usual sourcesof air pressure available at 60 to 150 pounds pressure, `always greater than the water source, which 'is-at 30 to 90 pounds of pressure, and

' arent by meansof--whichthe iiow of air and liquid may he l so.. controlled that either detergent or water may be cansedto'forcibly impact the engine to be cleaned, the detergent dissolving and loosening "the grease and dirt, and` the vwater later impactingthe engine partsl and driving off any remaining detergent, grease, and dirt, while Ithe use-of'air'with the water leaves the parts clean and dry.i x

Another object of the `invention is the provision of an improved -air and liquid spray gunin which the hands of the' userA areproteeted against excessive heat and the user is adapted' to so adjustv the valves for air and for Water Ithat the' water is vatomized and sprayed with the 'spray of airin a whirling spray, for most effectively drying the cleaned parts.

Another' object of the invention is the provision of an improved air and liquid spray gun which is simple in construction, which-includes a minimum number of parts, which is adapted to bemanufactured economically, which is adjustable for use with widely diierent liquid'and air pressures, and which may be used 4for a long period of time rwithoutnecessity for repairing or replacing any of its parts. l .e

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accom-V panying drawings, in which similar characters of referenceiind-icate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referiing't'o'the two sheets of drawings accompanying the-specification,

Fig'. kl' is a side elevational view of an air and liquid spray gun embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view in partial section, the section being taken on the plane passing through the axis of the nozzle and the axes of the supply pipes;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the 1ine-`3`3 of VFig.2,.looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

2,893,645 Patented July 7, 1959 Fig. 7 is a fragmentarysectional View, taken on the plane of the line 7-.7 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the linev 8 8 of Fig. 4, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9`9 of Fig. 4, looking in theA direction' of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view 'taken on the plane of the line 10f10 of Fig. 1showing the shield plate and valves. The present air and liquid nozzle is employed with sources of water under the pressure which is customary in city mains .and sourcesv of under pressure which are available at the points of use, "and which may be pro vided by the usual air compressors which provide air' at from 60 to 150 pounds per square inch.

For convenience the nozzle may be employed with a transportation unit having an electric motor driving a gear pump on an upper shelf, ahose'reel with Ithe ref quired hose, and a lower shelf supporting a drum filled with detergent solution.

Referring to Fig., l 41.0 ,indicatesin itsentirety an air `and liquidrspray gun embodying nfiy invention and adapted to be `supplied with 1iqu`id through 'the hose-11 andair y .through the hosel 12, which-'are connected to the 'gun unit through shut-olf valves 13and'14.f' Y

The valves'13 'and 14 havetheirvalve handles 15 land l' 16 provided withpointrs' 17;'"21-8,"'indicating'gthat' the valves are shut oiwhenthfe pointerieitends transverselyl The valve 13 hasits bddyf-19rconnectedto 'a threadedY pipe 21, having a nut^22;zarid theffpipe 'passesrr through an aperture 23in a shield plateg24,-`comprising"a rectangu= lar metal plate for supporting the valves in adjacent' posi'- tion so that the conduits maylserve'fas a handle.'

The shield plate 24 is-wide'enough on'the handle sideA of each valve to project beyond the handle and protect,

them against breakage. The shield plate 24 has a second aperture 25 for passing the -nipple'26, connected to the hose 12,*.leading-to the valve 14; vand Ithe, plate is prof' vided with a projecting iiange- 27, extending beyondl the valve handle 15 far enough to prevent the'handle from engaging anything which might break it vwhen the airand liquid gun. is dropped.

Thevalves 13 .and 14 arestaggered on opposite sidesof the shield plate 24 so lthat with the handles 15.,and '16 not interfere ywith eachother. fThe valve v14` is connected to a second threadedfrnetal pipef28; nipple 26 is provided with a'i1ut29, 'clampin'g"`the"' plate ,24Al against the valve'body`14. 'g' l' w f` i" l 4,

Pipe 21 is provided with'afthreaded nut 27.,V clamping they may. `be close together,

the plate 24 against the valverhody`19'. V Thus the plateA ,j 24 shields and protects theivalvesand holds the two pipes 21 and 28 in parallelfpositiori'a't Atheir right ends. Pipe 21 is threaded into a threaded`bo`re'30'ii1 the gun/housingil; 'I and pipe 28 is threaded into athr'eaded bore 32 in the gun housing 31.

Bores 30 and'v 32 each/communicate withv'larger counterbores 33, 34 for receiving the'iend of the covering hose35, 36, which' extends Ethe-"full length o f thejpipes21 and 28 in each case, protecting the use rjagainst heat when hot water is ernploye'vd,and'k aY convenient handle.- e f e' e so mounted that they do y The hoses 35 and 36 may be made of neoprene, resisting deterioration by grease.

The gun housing 31 comprises a metal casting preferably: made of brassron othennQnfCQrrndible material; and the inlet ttings 37 andv 3 8 lpreferably bear theletters W andA, as shown; inflige 11 utoguide,tlieuserrin connect ingthe air and water conduits 11; andt12, to the rightY nipples.

The inlet ttings 37' and 38 contain the two conduits ,39 and 40,which joinandmommunicate with a single conduitv 41 located inracylindrical body 42. Thewater conduit 39 has a larger threaded bore 43 for receiving acopper water. pipe 4,4whicln hasy athreaded end 45in the threadedbore v43.

The counterbore 41 is larger than the pipe. 4,4, leaving..

a sealing-washer53 oi neoprene; butthe sealing washer is.

not essential, since. the other. connection may beliquidtight.

The pIugMASmay havea. cylindrical body 54and a central bore 55. The cylindrical body may b eprovided-with a pair of radial flanges 56ar1dv 5;?, hay-ing. cylindrical,

edges;I and having' a partially-circulargroove-58lbetween them.

A neopreneQring locatedin :the groovefand-projects from it; sutiiciently. to.A effect arliquidftight seal withthe inner cylindrical surfacegwlofa spray cap 61. The spray. cap 61 has. aninner threaded; bore 62 of reduced size, which may be threaded ionthe threaded .portion'63-of. the; plugv 48, causingthesealingsleeve portion 64er thevcap 61 to slide back andzforthomthe; O.. ring 59.

The innerv bore SSin the :plug 48 extends to a small bore 65', which communicates` with the laterally extending bores 66, of vwhich thereare a plurality, such asfour, leadingto an annular groove67 surrounding-a neck 68 ofreduced size.

Except for the radial outlets 66. the bores 65L and SS`l are closedy at thc-outlet1end by a frusta-conical head 69, having-aplanegendl'-and; a-frustoconical surface 711-provided with spiral lgrooves 72 open at their rear endsvto comrnunicate-with-theI groove 68'bebind the head `69 and open at theirlfrontendsto communicate'with the space surrounding the plane-end 70, thisspace being indicated at 73 in Fig. 4.

The cap 61 has itsl inner threads 62 longer than the outer threads 63 on the plug 48, permittingthe cap to ber adjusted beyond the positions, shown; and there is a clear ance at 74 between ,theendjof'the skirt 64 andthe annularV thel here 41 andfcontinued byan-outer-cap 82; whichhas` an inner bore. 83 of. cylindrical shapesurrounding; the inner cap61. Bor-e153;terminatesi at an;end;wa]lv8;4' which is provided lwith an inner; frustoconical .surfacev 85 located to engage the partially circular surface 80 onthef 4 inner cap and to regulate the pressure of air passing these surfaces.

There is a space 86 inside the outer cap 82 in advance of the plane end surface 81 of the inner cap 61; and the space 86 communicates with a cylindrical outlet bore 87 larger than the outlet bore 78 of the inner cap, since the outlet 87 of the outer cap 82;.mustpass both air and Water or other liquids.

The outer cap S-Zhasa;smallercylindricalnoseportiom 88 communicating with a larger cylindrical skirt portion 89, which hasa knurledouter surface 90 for grip by the fingers. The bore 83 in` the nose portion 88 communicates with alargerbore 91Yintheskirt"89, and'v the'borel has an elongated innellthreaided:portiontQ-Z.:y

The length of this threaded portion 92 is suficient to permit the adjustment of the cap 82 on the outer threaded portion 93 of the body 31 to such a point that air is cut o Y between thef surfaces 8,0; and: onqvthe innen capgand the inside ottheoutercap. Asia general,rule, therouter.: l

cap. 82 will be adjustedto; such a peint that there-is:y a re'- t stricted opening between; 80. and ,reducinggthe pressure; ofthe air passing throughl thisY annular space; soy-,thatther air pressure in-the space, 86 approximates the pressnregofrw the water or detergent soglutionrcoming out-20L thefidisg.. chargeI aperture78 oi the inner nozzle-capta -preventithea air from stopping `the flow otheliquid.

Theoperation vofJthe.air-andliquid spraygunfisasrfole lows.: The liquid conduit'11,labeled;,W? on,=.the gnngisf. connectedto a supplyogdetergent solution undeepreaz sure, which is supplied bythe-water pipesefrom; thcrcity; main, at water pressure of fromiO to; 9.0,.pQundSrpen-.Sguarerinch.

The air pipe 121s connectedtoztheflocal.airicompresson driven by a motor or connected to the usual-.rail-21213.31 pressor tank, providing airat pressuresof from 6,0;tol50 pounds per square inch.

The inner cap 61 is adjusted sothat it providesa suite. ableY conical, spray of. liquid, suchyas detergent', and the.

outer cap 82 is so adjusted that the ainentrainsand carries v.

forwardthe sprayed detergentA and providesit with.;sl1 cient force to impact the areas of the diesel enguefttr'befV cleaned. The detergenty emulsiies` the grease,v andoilt.;l and the. combined air and detergent clean o theengmee surfaces, the dirtl and emulsitied grease fallingA inthe, piti Thereafter the pipe 11jis connected tothe water supply, under the same pressure; andthe. engineis forcibly sprayed with air and water. The water washes away all remain; ing detergent and dirt and, because. of the,useoas,su. cient. amount of air, leaves the engine. dry;

Whereas Ytwo or three hours were formerly required'to: clean a diesel engine with 25 to 50 gallonsv of watenv, when the presentair and liquid gun. is. employed',V the;A use of water is reduced to about 5- gallons; and the time.. consumed may be 30 minutes.

It will thus be observed that I have. invented'-arrim-A proved air and liquid spray gun particularly adaptedst. be used in cleaning greasy andL dirty surfaces such, asf. those on diesel engines. of locomotives; and this spray gun may be employed withwidely dierent-air andwatet pressures without the air stopping the flow-oli thewater:

The air entrains-and drivesA theliquidsprayfrornvthef,v

gun with suicient force to clean the surfaces in-a: mum amount of` time; and the presentgun'may. bev-adjusted to utilize any of the existing air and Water pressures.

While I' have illustrated a preferredenlbodtuentnii-inne invention, many modications may. be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I doant: wish to be limited; tothe precisedetails ofconstructilr set forth, but desire to avail myselfof all changeswithin-l the scope ofh thev appendedclaims.A

Havingthus describedrnyinvention;l what I claimzafa new and desire to secureby-Letters Patent voff,the-Unikat States, is:

1. In a combinedair audliqudlspraygunjnr'cleaneing greasy surfaces, a gun housing having a pair of inlet fittings surrounding two inwardly threaded conduits, a pair of metal pipes, each having one end threaded into one of said threaded conduits, and each having threaded ttings at their opposite ends, and each of the latter threaded fittings supporting a valve provided with a laterally projecting handle, a substantially rectangular shield plate having a pair of apertures in alignment with said pipes, the said latter ttings passing through said apertures, and having threaded nuts clamping the shield plate with the valves on opposite sides of the shield plate, the said shield plate being of suicient size to have its edges projecting beyond the valves and valve handles to prevent anything from engaging the handles when the spray gun is dropped, said gun housing having an obtuse bend in its liquid conduit, which is provided with an enlarged counterbore communicating with said air inlet conduit, and said liquid conduit being internally threaded and provided with a metal liquid pipe defining an annular air space in said counterbore communicating with the air conduit, the said liquid pipe being provided with internal threads, having a spray head plug threaded therein and forming a continuation thereof, said spray head plug having au inner bore leading to a small bore terminating at a closed end, said small :bore communicating with lateral bores leading to an annular groove and said plug having a frusto-conical head, said head having a plane end surface and a frusta-conical surface which is provided with spiral grooves opening at their front ends at said plane end surface and communicating at their rear ends with said annular groove in the plug, the said plug having a threaded portion adjacent said annular groove, an inner spray cap having inner threads engaging the threaded portion of said plug, said plug having a pair of radial ilanges with a partially circular groove between them, a resilient 0 ring located in the latter groove and projecting from it slightly to eiect a seal with an inner cylindrical surface of said spray cap, said spray cap having a sealing sleeve portion sliding back and forth on the O ring as the cap progresses on said plug threads, said cap having a bore larger than said frusto-conical head beyond its threads, and having an inner frusto-conical surface opposing the frusto-conical surface on said plug, said cap having a centrally located cylindrical discharge opening for passing a whirling spray coming from said spiral grooves, the said cap terminating at its end in lan outer partially cylindrical annular surface, an outer cap comprising a cylindrical member having an inner bore of cylindrical shape surrounding the inner cap and terminating at an end wall provided with an inner frustoconical surface to engage the partially spherical surface on the inner cap, said outer cap having a cylindrical outlet bore in its end which is larger than the outlet bore of the inner cap for passing both air and liquid, said outer cap having an open internally threaded end provided with a larger bore adapted to 'be threaded on the body of the spray gun and adjusted to the point of closing or throttling the passage of air between the inner cap and the outer cap.

2. A combined air and liquid spray gun according to claim l, in which the air and liquid inlets of the gun housing have enlarged counterbores outwardly of their threads surrounding the metal pipes and the metal pipes are covered with the rubber hose extending into and conned in said latter counterbore.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,652 Forstner Nov. 1, 1910 1,748,604 Heimburger Feb. 25, 1930 1,758,810 Austin May 13, 1930 1,989,696 Kelley Feb. 5, 1935 2,093,240 Holmquist Sept. 14, 1937 2,244,159 Hunter June 3, 1941 2,626,187 Toftmann Ian. 20, 1953 2,802,697 Pumphrey Aug. 13, 1957 2,815,069 Garraway Dec. 3, 1957 

